Methods and apparatus for growing plants

Abstract

An embodiment includes an enclosure having a nutrient bed for retaining and providing nutrients to plants grown therein. An adjustment mechanism provided for adjusting the level of one or more environmental variables therein so as to at least partially simulate the growing conditions found at a specific altitude. Exemplary environmental variables include water levels, broad-spectrum light intensity, UV light intensity, pH, nutrients, air temperature, soil temperature, atmospheric carbon dioxide, atmospheric oxygen, atmospheric pressure and combinations thereof. The adjustment mechanism may include one or more broad-spectrum/full spectrum lights, UV generating lights, skylights, vacuum/pressure pumps, hypoxicators, oxygen generators, carbon dioxide regulators, heaters, air conditioning units and so forth.

1 . An enclosure for growing plants therein, said enclosure including adjustment means for adjusting the level of one or more environmental variables therein so as to at least partially simulate the growing conditions found at a specific altitude. 
     
     
         2 . An enclosure according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more environmental variables are selected from water levels, broad-spectrum light intensity, UV light intensity, pH, nutrients, air temperature, soil temperature, atmospheric carbon dioxide, atmospheric oxygen and atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         3 . An enclosure according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein said adjustment means are selected from a water irrigation system, a hydroponic system, a broad spectrum light, a UV light, a nutrient supplementation system, an air heater, a soil heater, an air conditioning unit, a carbon dioxide generator, a carbon dioxide scrubber, an oxygen generator, a hypoxicator, a pressure pump, a vacuum pump and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . An enclosure according to any one of the preceding claims including at least one sensor for measuring the level of said at least one environmental variable. 
     
     
         5 . An enclosure according to  claim 4 , further including an automated control system for maintaining at least one environmental variable at a predetermined level, the automated control system being operably linked to a sensor and in control of an adjustment means corresponding to the environmental variable. 
     
     
         6 . An enclosure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the level of one or more of said variables is adjusted so as to at least partially simulate growing conditions at a higher altitude than the altitude at which the enclosure is located. 
     
     
         7 . An enclosure according to  claim 6 , wherein the air pressure within the enclosure is reduced compared with natural levels found at the altitude at which the enclosure is located. 
     
     
         8 . An enclosure according to  claim 6  or  claim 7 , wherein the oxygen level within the enclosure is reduced compared with natural levels found at the altitude at which the enclosure is located. 
     
     
         9 . An enclosure according to any one of  claims 6  to  8 , wherein said broad-spectrum light and/or UV light intensity within the enclosure are increased compared with natural levels found at the altitude at which the enclosure is located. 
     
     
         10 . An enclosure according to any one of  claims 6  to  9 , wherein the overall and/or night-time temperature within the enclosure is reduced compared with natural temperatures found at the altitude at which the enclosure is located. 
     
     
         11 . An enclosure according to any one of  claims 1  to  5 , wherein the level of one or more of said variables are adjusted so as to at least partially simulate the growing conditions at a lower altitude than the altitude at which the enclosure is located. 
     
     
         12 . An enclosure according to  claim 11 , wherein the air pressure within the enclosure is increased compared with natural levels found at the altitude at which the enclosure is located. 
     
     
         13 . An enclosure according to  claim 11  or  claim 12 , wherein the oxygen level is increased within the enclosure compared to the natural levels found at the altitude at which the enclosure is located. 
     
     
         14 . An enclosure according to any one of  claims 11  to  13 , wherein said broad-spectrum light and/or UV light levels within the enclosure are reduced compared with natural levels found at the altitude at which the enclosure is located. 
     
     
         15 . An enclosure according to any one of  claims 11  to  14 , wherein the overall and/or night-time temperature is increased compared with natural temperatures found at the altitude at which the enclosure is located. 
     
     
         16 . A plant grown in an enclosure according to any one of  claims 1  to  15 . 
     
     
         17 . A harvested plant, or part thereof, derived from a plant according to  claim 16 . 
     
     
         18 . A plant extract obtained from a plant, or part thereof, according to  claim 16  or  claim 17 . 
     
     
         19 . A method of altering the characteristics of a plant comprising growing the plant at a first altitude and adjusting the level of one or more environmental variables in proximity to the plant so as to at least partially simulate the growing conditions found at a second altitude. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the one or more environmental variables are selected from water levels, broad-spectrum light intensity, UV light intensity, soil type, pH, nutrients, air temperature, soil temperature, atmospheric carbon dioxide, atmospheric oxygen and atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 19  or  claim 20 , wherein said plant is selected from goji berry/wolf berry ( Lycium barbarum  or  L. chinense ), blueberry ( Vaccinium  species), tea ( Camellia sinensis  varieties) and coffee ( Coffea canephora  or  Coffea arabica ). 
     
     
         22 . A method according to any one of  claims 19  to  21 , wherein one of said characteristics is the level and/or quality of antioxidants found in said plant or part thereof. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein the level and/or quality of one or more antioxidants are increased. 
     
     
         24 . A computer control system for controlling the growth of plants at a first altitude, the control system being responsive to input obtainable from at least one sensor disposed in proximity to said plants so as to determine a control output for controlling one or more environmental adjustment means to adjust the level of one or more environmental variables in proximity to said plants to expose said plants to growing conditions which at least partially simulate the growing conditions found at a second altitude. 
     
     
         25 . A computer control system according to  claim 24 , further including data relating to the levels of a plurality of environmental variables that occur naturally at each of a plurality of different altitudes. 
     
     
         26 . A control system according to  claim 25  including input means to allow a user to select a specific altitude whereby the control system queries the data set for that altitude and adjusts one or more of the environmental conditions in proximity to the plants to a level at or near to the level that occurs naturally at that altitude. 
     
     
         27 . A computer control system for controlling the growth of plants at a first altitude, the control system being responsive to user input indicative of a target altitude so as to determine a control output for controlling one or more environmental adjustment means to adjust the level of one or more environmental variables in proximity to one or more plants to expose said plants to growing conditions which at least partially simulate the growing conditions found at said target altitude.